27 CT Pear Amethyst Necklace in 18kt White Gold

This amethyst necklace is a one-of-a-kind couture piece built around a single pear-shaped faceted amethyst of 25.00 carats, set in 18kt white gold with seven baguette amethysts and forty-eight round diamonds. Total gem weight is approximately 27 carats. It is a single piece rather than a production item, and what follows describes the exact amethyst and diamond necklace you will be shown in our Boca Raton showroom.

The 25 carat pear amethyst at the center

The center stone is a pear, sometimes called a teardrop, and at 25.00 carats it is a genuine statement stone. A pear this size has real presence at the base of the throat: the rounded end catches light like an oval, while the point draws the eye downward and makes the whole pear amethyst necklace read longer and more elegant than a round stone of the same weight would.

The color is a rich purple, which is the quality that matters most in any amethyst necklace. The Gemological Institute of America describes the finest amethyst as a strong reddish purple to pure purple without being so dark that it looks black. The purple in this stone holds up in ordinary room light, which is not something every large amethyst can claim.

Amethyst is a variety of quartz, colored by traces of iron and natural irradiation in the ground. It sits at 7 on the Mohs hardness scale. That is hard enough for an amethyst necklace, which takes far fewer knocks than a ring, but softer than sapphire or diamond, so it rewards a little care. We cover what that means in practice further down.

The cut is faceted rather than cabochon, so the stone returns light instead of simply glowing. On a pear amethyst necklace with a stone of 25 carats, the facets also do a practical job: they break up the depth of the color so the amethyst reads as vivid purple from across a room rather than as a single dark mass.

An amethyst and diamond necklace, piece by piece

Beyond the center stone there are seven baguette amethysts, step-cut rectangles that repeat the purple in a quieter, more architectural shape. Around them sit forty-eight round diamonds ranging from about 0.02 to 0.06 carats each, approximately 2 carats in total, recorded as VS1 clarity.

That combination is what turns a large colored stone into a finished amethyst and diamond necklace. The diamonds add white sparkle against the purple, and the baguettes carry the color into the mounting so the center stone does not look as though it has been hung on a frame. Up close the setting reads as a single designed piece rather than a stone with an accessory around it.

VS1 clarity means any inclusions in the diamonds are minor and not visible without magnification. On accent diamonds of this size that is more than enough; the point of them is brightness and consistency across all forty-eight, and consistency is what you see when the piece moves.

Taken together the gem weight is approximately 27 carats: the 25.00 carat pear, about 2 carats of diamonds, and the baguette amethysts. That is where the 27 CT in the title comes from, and we would rather be precise about it than let the number suggest a single 27 carat stone.

Why 18kt white gold suits a purple amethyst

The mounting is 18kt white gold, which is 75 percent pure gold alloyed with white metals for strength and color. White gold is the natural partner for an amethyst and diamond necklace: it keeps the stone cool and saturated, where yellow gold would warm it toward a reddish tone. The diamonds also look brighter set in white metal, so the whole piece stays crisp.

18kt carries more gold than 14kt, which gives it a slightly richer, heavier feel and a surface that takes a fine polish. Like most white gold it is finished with rhodium plating for its bright white color. That plating wears slowly with time, and restoring it is a routine bench job we do in-house.

An amethyst statement necklace with a 25 carat stone needs a setting that holds it properly. The prongs and gallery on this piece are built to carry that weight without twisting, and they are one of the first things we check when you bring it back for a cleaning.

How this amethyst statement necklace wears

This is an amethyst statement necklace, and it is meant to be seen. It sits best with an open neckline, a strapless or square-cut dress, or a simple black top that lets the purple do the work. It is not a piece to layer under three other chains.

Despite the gem weight, a pear-shaped pendant of this kind hangs well because the weight is centered and low. It rests flat against the collarbone rather than flipping, which is the usual complaint about large pendants. We will fit it on you in the showroom so you can see exactly where the stone falls.

An amethyst statement necklace is equally at home at an evening event and at a daytime occasion where you want one piece to carry the outfit. Purple suits a wide range of skin tones, from fair to deep, which is part of why amethyst has stayed a favorite for so long.

If you are unsure about chain length, ask us to measure it with you. Chain length changes where the pear sits, and small changes to it can move the stone from the collarbone to the neckline of a dress.

A February birthstone necklace with history behind it

Amethyst is the birthstone for February, and GIA's guide to the February birthstone covers its long history as a stone of royalty and clergy. That makes this a natural choice for a February birthday, though at this size it is a February birthstone necklace for someone who wants more than a small token.

Amethyst is also the traditional gift for a sixth wedding anniversary, so an amethyst necklace works for both occasions. A piece like this marks an occasion properly: it is personal because of the stone, and substantial enough to become something that is passed down rather than put away.

For centuries amethyst was valued as highly as ruby and emerald, and purple was the color of royalty because the dye was so expensive to produce. Large new deposits in Brazil made amethyst more widely available in the nineteenth century, which is why a stone of 25 carats is attainable today when a sapphire of that size would not be.

How to judge an amethyst necklace in person

When you look at any amethyst necklace, start with the color. Look for an even purple across the stone. Many amethysts show color zoning, bands of lighter and darker purple, which you can see by looking through the side of the stone. Some zoning is normal in large stones; strong banding across the face is not.

Next, look at the stone in more than one light. Good amethyst stays purple under daylight, warm indoor light and cool store lighting. Lower-grade material can turn brownish or grayish under warm bulbs. We are happy to take a piece to the window so you can see it in daylight before you decide.

Then look at clarity. Faceted amethyst of good quality is usually clean to the eye, and a large stone makes any inclusion easier to see. Tilt the stone slowly and watch how the light moves through the facets; you want life across the whole surface, not dark patches.

Finally, look at the workmanship. Check that the prongs are even, that the accent stones sit level and that the back of the mounting is finished as carefully as the front. That is where a well-made amethyst and diamond necklace separates itself from a mass-produced one.

Amethyst compared with other purple gemstones

Amethyst is not the only purple gem, and it helps to know where it sits. Tanzanite is a bluish purple and rarer, but it is softer, at around 6.5, and needs more care. Purple sapphire is harder, at 9, but a clean purple sapphire of even a few carats costs many times what this amethyst does.

Amethyst gives you a large, well-colored stone in a size that other purple gems simply do not offer at a sensible price. That is why a pear amethyst necklace like this one can carry a 25 carat center while a tanzanite or sapphire version would usually be a fraction of the size. The International Gem Society gives a good overview of how amethyst compares.

Choosing an amethyst necklace as a gift

An amethyst necklace is one of the easier fine jewelry gifts to get right, because it does not depend on a ring size and purple flatters almost everyone. The questions worth asking are simpler: does the person wear statement pieces, do they prefer white or yellow metal, and what necklines do they usually wear?

If the answer to the first question is yes, a pear amethyst necklace of this size is a gift that will be worn to the occasions that matter. If it is a February birthday, the stone carries its own meaning, and a February birthstone necklace at this level will not be mistaken for an afterthought.

We are glad to help you decide. Bring a photo of what they usually wear, and we will tell you honestly whether this piece suits them or whether something quieter from the case would be the better choice.

Caring for an amethyst necklace

Clean your amethyst necklace with warm water, a drop of mild soap and a soft brush, then rinse and dry with a lint-free cloth. Avoid steam cleaning and sudden changes of temperature, which can stress a large quartz stone. Our jewelry care guide goes through the process step by step.

Keep it out of long exposure to strong sunlight and heat. Some amethyst can lighten over time if it spends years in a sunny spot, and heat is how amethyst is turned into citrine, so a dashboard or a windowsill is not a place to leave it.

Store the amethyst necklace on its own, ideally flat in a lined box or pouch. Diamonds are harder than amethyst and can scratch it, so letting this piece tangle with other jewelry is the easiest way to mark the center stone.

Put it on last and take it off first. Perfume, hairspray and lotion leave a film that dulls the stone and the diamonds, and a necklace worn after getting dressed stays cleaner for longer.

Bring it in once a year and we will clean it professionally and check the prongs and clasp at no charge. On a stone this size, a loose prong is something you want found at the bench rather than discovered at an event.

Appraisal, documentation and what you receive

Every amethyst necklace at this level leaves with a written appraisal describing the metal, the stones, the measurements and a stated replacement value for insurance. That document is what your insurer will ask for, and it is worth updating every few years as gold and gem prices move. Our jewelry appraisals page explains how we do it.

You can see our full range of necklaces alongside this one, and our diamond and gemstone education pages set out how grading actually works. If you would like a piece altered, or something built around a stone you already own, we do that too through our design service.

See this amethyst necklace in Boca Raton

Photographs of a purple stone are unreliable. Screens shift purple toward blue or red, and a 25 carat amethyst looks different in daylight than it does under a display lamp. An amethyst necklace at this level is worth seeing in person, which is why we would rather you came in and looked at it than bought it sight unseen.

David Stern Jewelers has been in business for over 40 years, family owned since 1970, and the showroom is at 21073 Powerline Rd #37, Boca Raton. We are open Monday to Friday from 9:30am to 5:30pm and Saturday from 10:30am to 4:30pm. Call 561-994-3330 and we will have the piece waiting, or book an appointment for a quieter time.

If this particular piece is not quite right, tell us why. A different stone shape, a shorter drop, yellow gold instead of white: with a piece like this the specification is a starting point, and we would rather find you the right thing than sell you the nearest thing.

Common questions about this amethyst necklace

One last practical note. Because this is a single piece rather than stock, it can sell on any given day, and we do not hold items without a deposit. If you have seen this amethyst necklace here and intend to come in, a phone call first will confirm it is still in the case and save you the trip if it is not.